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Lady Elkers use strong second half for 6-1 win

Ridgway girls soccer used four second-half goals to pull away from St. Marys in a 6-1 win over St. Marys Wednesday afternoon at Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School. Ridgway had some good chances in the first 20 minutes but were unable to bury any of them in the back of the net. One of them included a crossing pass from Ridgway right winger Angela DeAngelo to striker Kayli Methaney in the 16th minute. Methaney was able to get a head to the ball and knocked it off the crossbar and out. Methaney wouldn’t miss five minutes later. DeAngelo took a free kick from about 30 yards out. The ball was dropped in the penalty area by the goalkeeper and Methaney slid in and pushed the ball into the net for a 1-0 Ridgway lead. Ridgway coach Greg Maddalena said Methaney has been a great addition to the team as she transferred to Johnsonburg, moving in from Florida. “Now I have Kayli, she’s almost as fast as Rhianon,” Maddalena said. “Her acceleration speed is unbelievable. I knew the first time I had her in practice, I just could tell with her speed and her skill level, she’s a perfect fit for this team.” With around 12 minutes left, Lady Elker striker Rhianon Fowler would take the ball at midfield and make a long run down the left side of the field. She used her speed to cut in toward the net and buried the ball on the short side for a 2-0 Ridgway advantage. The Lady Dutch began to get back into the game in the latter stages of the first half and was able to score just before halftime. A poor goal kick led to a short field and a run on the right side of the field for striker Kaitlyn Barackman. She would bury it high on the right side as St. Marys trailed 2-1 at halftime. The Lady Dutch controlled the play in the first few minutes of the second half, keeping the possession and the play in Ridgway’s defensive half of the field. A turning point of the game appeared to come with just under 28 minutes left in the second half when Ridgway left winger Abbie Lampman made a long run down her side of the field and ripped a shot just under the crossbar and in for a goal and a 3-1 Ridgway lead. Maddalena said strikers Mathaney and Fowler along with Lampman and DeAngelo on the wings, are giving the team an incredible array of offense. “They just poured it on. It just amazes me how I have so many offensive threats,” Maddalena said. “My wing play is just unbelievable this year. Abbie Lampman on the left, Angela on the right, they’re just tearing it up. It’s awesome. They give me so much opportunity crossing that ball and giving us opportunities to score. They’re just playing phenomenal ball, that’s all I can ask.”Three minutes later, Hollie Schneider set up Fowler for a long run and a breakaway goal for a 4-1 advantage. Methaney assisted on a goal with 14:31 left as she put a crossing pass into the penalty area which found the right foot of Fowler for a hat trick, her second straight game with that feat. Kassa Kocjancic added a goal with 3.8 seconds left for the Lady Elkers to push the final margin to 6-1. “My whole midfield is playing ball and my defense gives the midfield opportunities to get the ball up,” Maddalena said. “Each and every girl is playing their position, playing it well and giving me the opportunity to score.” Maddalena said the team is maturing quite well early in the season. “The girls are so up. It’s so promising how much they’re maturing as a team and it’s only been three games into the season,” Maddalena said. “They’re starting to mature in their positions. That’s huge only three games into the season. I just want to keep going with it.” Ridgway (2-1) will compete in the Bucktail Tournament this weekend. Ridgway will play Elk County Catholic at Benzinger Park for a 4 p.m. matchup Friday. “ECC is always a well-coached team. It’s going to be a good battle,” Maddalena said. “It’s going to be a good game, we’re looking forward to it.” St. Marys will host Bradford at the Bucktail Tournament Friday afternoon for a 4 p.m. match.